Gun Shop Etiquette....

Thought id ask your opinions on something. Was in looking around at my local toystore, and i saw something that caught my eye. The usual guys said to holler if i saw anything, and dont be shy. Well im not and as soon as i saw a pistol that i liked, i asked him if he would show it to me. Im checkin it out..i really like it, being that i hadnt seen to many of these around, and start to talkin to they guy.

Now, getting to the point, he was really cool taking about 15 min or so just talking, offering what he could do for me, on the price, and offering to 'put it in the back' so that i would have better odds at it, while i was trying to scrape enough together to put a down payment, so that they would hold it for me. Couple days pass, and i cant get the funds (how life unfolds sometimes) and he says thaks for calling, he appreciated the call, as i did him being nice and holding it for me. If it is still there, when i have the money, should i try to get him on it, so he gets some money off of it. Kinda as to extend the courtesy?? Even if its not that gun, but another one? Just thought id ask, thanks guys.

I would go back to that guy... he gave you great service and he deserves to be rewarded. Plus, why take a chance on another guy that might not be so courteous?

Top Gun Supply

December 25, 2005, 10:28 PM

Good customer service can be a scarce commodity these days. I tend to go back to people that treat me right and avoid those that don't, even if it costs me a few more $.

Pierre

December 25, 2005, 10:57 PM

Yup... Grooming the Firearms Dealer.

Find a good one, take care of him, bring him your friends and students. It's a win / win situation.

Has resulted in a couple signifigant discounts in the past. This was not the intention, but I do take "gifts"... (grin) I WORK for a living too!

So - YES - Absolutely go back to the guy who takes care of you. Always a bonus to enjoy doing business, and you may have met a good friend too!

HTH
Merry Christmass!

trickyasafox

December 25, 2005, 11:21 PM

im very loyal to good service

1911 guy

December 25, 2005, 11:39 PM

Good service is hard to find anywhere now. Go back to him.

Brass Balls

December 26, 2005, 12:05 AM

That's the kind of person I'd like to do business with. I think you also did well by calling him to let him know that you couldn't make the purchase at this time. I little courtesy goes a long way on both sides of the counter.

Jammer Six

December 26, 2005, 04:15 AM

Where do you shoot, Great White?

tonytulipz

December 26, 2005, 04:30 AM

Good customer service can be a scarce commodity these days. I tend to go back to people that treat me right and avoid those that don't, even if it costs me a few more $.

SO true! In Every place! ESPECIALLY if you may EVER use that Service again in your life time.

Good People Remember Good People and those Good People sometimes talk to other Good People abouts those Good People......Yous Unda stand wheres I'm Goin wit dis? :D ;)

carolinaman

December 26, 2005, 07:35 AM

Hi there,

I use my local gun dealer for the majority of my purchases because he does provide exceptional service. He does (in the words of my former profession) believe that:

"A good sale is a good service, and good services are rewarded by good sales"

He also offers 100% warranty service on all firearms, new and used, that he sells.

Chris

GreatWhiteShark

December 26, 2005, 02:00 PM

Jammer Six,

Usually shoot where i can be outside, with friends. I prefer it over indoor ranges, but if i do, usually at the kenmore range, as its pretty close to my house. On occasion, i have shot at Wade's Eastside Guns, its nice to be able to rent guns, that i normally wouldnt have access too. Nice to shoot new guns that my friends dont have! Not a whole lot of my friends shoot, and the ones that do dont seem to want to go all that often. Wether its because they cant find the time, or dont have money for ammo. Id like to find some other places to shoot.

Being out of work right now really isnt helping me shoot! Once i find a job, and get back on my feet financially, id like to shoot alot more. I truly believe its a perishable skill. Might even get into reloading. Not just to save money, but so i can shoot alot more when i do, and more frequently. What about you? where do you shoot at?

bg

December 26, 2005, 02:10 PM

I'd go back and buy at couple box's of ammo at least. Tell him the
reason you came back is because of the good customer service and
appreciated him helping with the weapon you couldn't get right now.
That is if you can swing it.

One thing small business likes is the tinkle of coins hitting the register.
I do that and also stop by the mgr or owner of any store where the
salespeople where really helpful, and make sure the mgr/owner knows
it. Never hurts to be nice if deserved. Just my 0.02

Standing Wolf

December 26, 2005, 09:30 PM

The salesman may be on commission, so there's possibly more than courtesy involved in going back to him.

f4t9r

December 26, 2005, 09:38 PM

im very loyal to good service

+1
its getting harder to find these days

pete f

December 27, 2005, 03:03 AM

rule no 1 never leave a gun shop without buying something if they did a good job. even if all they did was say hi to you and offer to let you look at something you both knew you were not going to buy. buy a bottle of solvent and a box of ammo, even if it is just 22's. or a new pistol rug.

rule 2 ask if he drinks beer, then ask what brand. if he does something nice for you bring a box in with a 6 pack in it and tell him thanks for helping me with .......whatever.

rule 3 if he is not the boss and the boss is present, make sure the boss hears you say, boy, you are out of my way, but i really like the way you guys treat me here.

or say gee Walmart is couple of bucks less, but I prefer to shop at a place where the guy behind the counter cares about what he does.

You do that once or twice and you will be sitting pretty.

Jammer Six

December 27, 2005, 04:51 AM

Great White, I'm a life member at Wade's. I do virtually all of my shooting there, unless I'm traveling.

charliemopic

December 28, 2005, 10:59 AM

I've been to several gun shops around here including the big chains and the sales ppl act like security ppl. They stand there with their big guns on their hip in a military at ease position with a stern look on their face. Ask a question and while they answer it they're eyes are darting around the room like they're gaurding the president.
While my buddy was looking at Taurus 24/7 the sales guy was houvering over him like he was gonna runaway with the gun! I told the sales guy who was maybe 25 years old to 'relax, nobody is gonna hurt you.'
At another shop the wife & I went there to buy a Taurus revolver. We ask to look a model 627 and the guy takes the boxed gun from under the counter and walks us as far away from the door as possible to a corner of the store where he allows us to handle it. As he pulls the gun out of the box two other armed gorillas position themselves 10 feet on either side of us. These are big fellas, both had the hammer back on their 1911s that they carried.
Now, Im only 5' 8" 142 pounds and the wife is smaller. We know we're going to a store that has firearms and ammunition so we dress so that its obvious as can be that we aren't hiding anything. I don't know if they are like that with everyone or if its just us or maybe because we're just a few miles from Cook county, IL.
Maybe I'm silly but I don't look at my guns as instruments of violence. I don't dwell on the day when maybe I can blow away an intruder. I cannot even find anyone who is into guns enuff to wanna go shooting! Soon as I say that I like to shoot and my hobby is guns ppl clam up.
I must say that while at an outdoor range (Buffalo Rock in Ottawa,IL.) ppl (shooters) there were very friendly and several ppl even offered me to shoot their guns of which I accepted. Once got to shoot a S&W 657 and loved it.

Camp David

December 28, 2005, 11:17 AM

I think this thread is an excellent venue for short story...

I was visiting a gun store in Vermont during deer season a few years back. Good banter and hot coffee and stories of deer hunts were being shared by all in store... After some discussion among us, in walks what we would all call a flatlander... guy from city dressed in LL Bean's best...flourescent orange everything! Moron says to dealer he wants to see a handgun... selects a single action from display case. Above gun display case is a sign which reads: "NO DRY FIRING OF HANDGUNS AND NO CYLINDER SPINNING. MANAGEMENT" The flatlander promptly holds up handgun, opens loading port and spins cylinder. Then he slams loading port, cocks and dry fires handgun. Over walks dealer, rapidly, grabbing handgun from flatlander's hands. Then dealer roughly drags moron to door and pushes him out, not one word said.

Applause from us all....

And more coffee! :)

newfalguy101

December 28, 2005, 11:19 AM

charliemopic:

All I can say is it would be real unnerving to be shadowed like that, and I dont know if I would ever return to a shop that acted that way, given a choice.

GreatWhiteShark:

I agree with the rest of the posters, once you find a good guy to deal with HE's golden. The phone call thanking them for holding the gun was, and letting them know you wouldnt be able buy right now was GOLDEN to them.

One suggestion though, be sure you dont get in the habit of asking them to "hold" something, especially if you cant get the cash quick, that will get old real quick.

I do also agree that you should go back right away and buy something, kind of like a token for the good service.

palerider1

December 28, 2005, 12:46 PM

i paid a little more for my new colt 45 when i bought it from my local gun dealer, but he is also a master gunsmith capable of handling anything that comes his way. after the sale i bought several boxes of ammo on a couple of different occasions and he then offered to replace all the springs and do a trigger job on it for free when i got 300 rounds through it. i am always willing to pay more for excellent service. you make out better anyways in the end.
palerider1